Four historic vessels from around the UK have been chosen as this year's Flagships of the Year by National Historic Ships UK, the official voice for historic vessels in the country. The annual Flagship Awards, which have been running since 2009, celebrate the value of historic vessels to the wider public and provide an opportunity to showcase them through a variety of activities, such as online events, special tours, workshops, and open days.

This year, more than twenty vessels on the National Registers applied for the awards, and four very different craft were chosen as Flagships of the Year. These included one National Flagship, two Operational, and one Static. The 2024 Flagships will receive a special broad pennant to fly at the masthead, a brass plaque for their vessel, and a copy of the guidance manual "Conserving Historic Vessels" courtesy of Engraving Studios.

• National Flagship of the Year: Waverley (Paddle Steamer, 1946 - Glasgow) Awarded in recognition of her ambitious cruising programme around the UK during which she is scheduled to visit 70 ports / piers, her dedicated marketing plan and high level of outreach across all major social media platforms. 2024 marks the 50th Anniversary since Waverley was gifted for £1 and the ship will also boast new display boards, activity leaflets and a range of special offers.
• Operational Flagship of the Year: Challenge (Steam Tug, 1931 - Medway) Awarded in recognition of her planned attendance at two major international events - Dordrecht in Steam and D-Day 80 in Normandy - incorporating live public displays and real-time social media updates, as well as her participation in local festivals around the Thames Estuary for the remainder of the summer.
• Operational Flagship of the Year: Provident (Brixham Trawler, 1924 - Oban) Awarded in recognition of plans to celebrate her centenary with a return cruise from Scotland to Brixham, bringing together ex-crew and other surviving Brixham trawlers in a celebration Regatta event, as well as ongoing public engagement and social media activity throughout the season.
• Static Flagship of the Year: Lady Daphne (Spritsail Barge, 1923 - Charlestown) Awarded in recognition of the extensive planned programme of events which include open days, floating fayres, music and quiz nights, artists studios and even the launch of the vessel's own ale and spirit range. The creativity and variety demonstrated in the application was inspiring and reflects the growth of interest in the vessel locally through news and social media.

Flagships act as ambassadors for the UK's maritime heritage sector and promote the role of National Historic Ships UK by publicising its annual Photo Competition, Excellence in Maritime Conservation, and Marsh Volunteer Awards. NHS-UK will work closely with each of the Flagships to promote their vessel and offer support and advice.

To celebrate their new status, each Flagship will hold a flag-hoisting ceremony in May or June, with the first confirmed for Challenge in Harwich, Essex, on Thursday 9 May. Local press are welcome to attend and receive details of dates when they are announced by emailing NHS-UK.

#PaddleSteamer - In recent weeks, Waverley, the World's last sea-going paddle steamer, which has visited Irish ports among them Wicklow, returned to its Scottish homeport for winter layover following a UK season of coastal exursions, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Waverley's wake has included the waters off the Antrim coast, having set off from Scotland, where the 623 tonnes vessel is currently berthed on the Clyde just downriver of Glasgow City. The Waverley is berthed on the banks of where famous shipyards stood and nearby of the present day Riverside Museum of Transport featuring tallship Glenlee. The barque is the UK’s only remaining floating Clyde-built cargo sailing ship dating to 1896 and during its clipper ocean trading career called to Cobh.

The visits to Wicklow by Waverley is represented by a wonderfully executed mural painted on the East Pier by local marine artist Pat Davis. Recently, a new mural of the Irish Naval Service coastal patrol vessesl (CPV) LÉ Orla was added. This brings to 40 murals in total by Davis, including brigantine Asgard II that sank a decade ago. They line the length of the breakwater bookended by the Wicklow Sailing Club and the pierhead lighthouse.

Incidentally, CPV LÉ Orla was launched as HMS Swift in Scotland for the Royal Navy's 'Peacock' class. Under INS career (30 years), the small patrol vessel has never called to the port, though many years before, LÉ Gráinne another former RN 'Ton' class patrol vessel did and is depicted in a mural at the beginning of the pier.

It was at Wicklow Port's pier, where P.S. Waverley called to the Irish east coast port in 2001, a trip recalled with much fondness, having embarked in Dublin Port, from there the power of those paddles propelled the veteran vessel also to Arklow and as far south offshore of Courtown Harbour, Wexford.

Another, previously enjoyed coastal paddlesteamer excursion in 1984 involved the short hop across Dublin Bay from the capital to Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Also in that year, transits through Dalkey Sound made for a spectacular sight (see photo p. 37 'Maritime' Dalkey) as the vessel swept up and down along the coast. Other ports during this rare calls over the years have included Dundalk and Rosslare Harbour.

The 73m long paddle-steamer with capacity for 925 passengers, arrived last month on the River Clyde from where the keel was laid in 1945 at the former A&J Inglis Ltd shipyard in Glasgow. Due to material shortages after the war, the steamer was not ready for launch until October 2, 1946, however it was not till the following year that the vessel was towed to Greenock where boiler and engines were installed.

Waverley, finally made a maiden voyage on June 16, 1947 that began a very long career iniatially for London & North Eastern Railway. In the following year due to Nationalisation of Railways the paddle steamer became part of the Caledonian Steam Packet Company to serve duties on the Clyde. The distinctive angled twin funnels could be seen serving Scottish waters until retirement in 1973. The paddle steamer was saved the next year when gifted to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society (PSPS) for a nominal £1.

The Waverley decades later remains magnificently restored with those towering funnels, varnished timber decks and gleaming brass fittings. On board, excursionists on the steamer operated by Waverley Excursions, can hear but also observe directly the mighty steam engines as they propel the paddles through the sea.

Next year the PSPS will celebrate a Diamond Jubilee, having been founded in 1959 when many paddle steamers were been withdrawn from within UK coastal waters. Waverley Excursions are in the process of planning the 2019 season with a programme operated on behalf of owners the Waverley Steam Navigation Company.

Volunteers Wanted...

In the meantime during the Waverley's winter layover in Glasgow, skilled tradespeople are been sought to carry out maintenance on board. So if you are an engineer, electrician, plumber or joiner you can submit the volunteering form to email: [email protected] and for further information by clicking this link